Self Harm, Depression, and Suicide

Anxiety

It’s normal for everyone to feel anxious from time to time.

Anxiety can become a mental health challenge when it involves excessive amounts of fear, nervousness, worry/dread

It can have adverse effects on a person’s daily life and happiness

Self Harm

Hurting oneself on purpose

As many as 35% of teens and young adults self-harm

Examples: cutting, burning, pulling out hair

Considered a sign of emotional distress and underlying mental illness

Depression

Diagnosable chronic illness

A feeling of severe and prolonged sadness that affects one’s behavior, physical health, appearance, academic performance, and ability to cope with everyday life

Causes persistent feelings of sadness and loss of interest in activities over extended period

No single cause for depression: genetics, environment, life events, chemical imbalances, thinking patterns

Treatable through counseling and/or medication

Suicide

3rd leading cause of death of 10-19 year olds

All threats of suicide should be considered a warning sign and taken seriously

4/5 students who have committed suicide have given clear warning signs

Anyone who talks of suicide should be encouraged to get help immediately

Action steps of suicide

If you notice these signs in a friend or classmate, encourage them to get help right away

Offer to go with them to a trusted adult

Even when sworn to secrecy, you must not keep secrets about threats or risks of suicide

Always tell an adult if you’re worried about someone’s safety, it could save their life

Call an emergency helpline or 911 for an immediate, life-threatening emergency

Signs and symptoms of depression

-Feelings of worthlessness, hopelessness, and helplessness

-Sadness over extended time (two weeks or more)

-Withdrawn, have less energy

-Tearful

-Lose or gain weight

-Have trouble sleeping

-Can’t concentrate, grades plummet

-May self-medicate or numb their feelings with alcohol or other drugs

Difference between sadness and depression

Sadness	Depression
Universal	Not universal
Feelings of sadness that come and go and are often temporary	Clinical depression is a medical condition that involves persistent feelings of hopelessness and sadness that continues for more than 2 weeks
Usually brought on by a specific causal event or trigger	Can be linked to an external trigger but it can also be linked to internal causes
Can affect how we go about our daily life, but the impact is not as severe	Significantly interferes with, and even impairing, our ability to function in everyday life